Rare Thonet No. 1 fireplace armchair from circa 1880 production. With the manufacturer's brand mark. It is in an intact condition, including the caning. The most valuable original Thonet furniture pieces are those made during the "artisanal and design" phase of the mid-19th century. The early models, created around the mid-century first in Boppard, then in Moravia, are reference objects in the history of design and furniture, with museum relevance. Production from 1870-85 retains considerable artistic and collectible interest as production was still carefully managed, limited in number, and with techniques similar to the prototypes. Mass production, which became widespread at the end of the century and the beginning of the 20th century, is considered much less interesting. Steam-bent beechwood, dyed and natural. French polished. The piece is in a state of excellent integrity, consolidated and with a refreshed finish according to museum standards. Manufacturer's brand and cartouche. Length 130 cm, height 97 cm, width 57 cm approx. P.S. This is a particularly rare model, often used as an icon of Thonet production, akin to the No. 14 chair (see cover photo of a book on Thonet furniture in German). Observe the last photo on this listing, which is a fanciful computer simulation where original pieces are virtually imagined in a high-end modern interior design context. N.B. The other furnishings in the photo, excluding our original offered piece, are not ours/available but are computer-simulated. They virtually associate with the piece, creating an astonishing "modernity," luminosity, and abstraction in a work conceived almost two centuries ago. With a great touch of class and elegance to the whole. High antique Viennese cabinetmaking, with its sober and minimalist elegance, blends very well with the lines of contemporary modern furniture. Even a single perfect original piece can act as a focal point for high-level contemporary interiors! Early design by Viennese masters = clean lines, lightness, precious wood veneers, great craftsmanship. Compact dimensions and compatibility with modern apartments. A feeling of everyday elegance and functionality. Perfect for minimalist contemporary interiors. A unique piece for discreet and refined luxury. For these reasons, along with their rarity, intact original Viennese pieces from this period, prototypes of modernism, are destined for significant economic revaluation over time and represent a perfect investment opportunity. History of the prestigious Thonet manufacture. Around 1830, Thonet experimented with veneer strips softened in boiling glue before inventing "bentwood furniture." In 1842, Prince Metternich, impressed by the talent of the Rhenish cabinetmaker, summoned him to Vienna. Here, Michael Thonet, with his sons, dedicated himself to creating parquet flooring and furniture for the Liechtenstein Palace and Schwarzenberg Palace. With the creation of the No. 4 chair for the Daum café on Vienna's Kohlmarkt, he quickly conquered the Viennese café scene, laying the foundation for the development of furniture for "collectivities," i.e., public spaces. With the revolution of 1848, many people lost their jobs and found new employment in Thonet's new factories, where steam engines were in operation. Success came in 1859 when the company Gebrüder Thonet, founded by Michael's sons, presented the No. 14 chair made of solid bentwood, the famous "Vienna straw chair," now considered an icon of design history. The Thonet brothers soon understood the need to integrate new trends and technical developments into their work, adopting certain embryonic intuitions. From the beginning, they presented their creations at the industrial and craft exhibitions of the time. The multilingual catalogs of Gebrüder Thonet helped to promote the products abroad, and they quickly became bestsellers. Thus, sales branches were established in neighboring and distant countries, developing a worldwide distribution network for Thonet furniture. The development of an innovative technique for bending solid wood (hot steam), first by boiling glue, then by humidifying it with steam generated by an autoclave, to give it the desired curvature in metal molds and make it rigid again by drying in ovens. This latter procedure was patented in 1842. Michael Thonet died in Vienna in 1871, and the business was continued by his sons. The most valuable original Thonet furniture pieces are those made during the "artisanal and design" phase of the mid-19th century. The early models, created around the mid-century first in Boppard, then in Moravia, are reference objects in the history of design and furniture, with museum relevance. In accordance with the provisions of the New Cultural Heritage Code, the seller provides, along with the sale, a detailed written photographic guarantee of originality and provenance of the works sold. The data used to describe the works and contained in the written guarantees are the result of accurate and documented technical/historical/artistic investigations, including expert appraisals. Copying and duplication for commercial purposes and/or to describe other works for sale, even if considered similar in some way, are prohibited. The gallery of our original Thonet furniture. Click on the following link: Principessa Sissi ® Antiques. High antique gallery in Udine. Our gallery of antique armchairs. Click on the following link: Principessa Sissi ® Antiques. High antique gallery in Udine. The early design of true early Viennese Biedermeier from our gallery in beautiful simulated interior design fantasies. An unprecedented, unique, and interesting overview. Click on the following link: Modern Simulations.pdf
